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Bob Gibson : A Salute to African American Heroes
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Gibson played all 17 MLB Seasons for the red birds.
One of the fiercest competitors in Major League Baseball history, pitcher Bob Gibson wasn’t intimidated by anyone. Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1935, Gibson overcame childhood illnesses to not only play youth sports, but excel in it.
Bob Gibson was one of very few players to spend his entire career with one team. He played 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He’s best known for his scowl on the mound, hardly ever smiling. He wouldn’t hesitate to throw brushback pitches to let the batter know that he was in charge. Despite the intimidation, Gibson had plenty of control. He hit only 102 batters in his career (an average of six batters per season).
Gibson retired in 1975 with 3,117 career strikeouts, two Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles. He was a nine-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner and won the National League MVP award in 1968 – a rare feat for pitchers. He still holds Major League records in strikeouts during a World Series (35), strikeouts in a World Series game (17) and lowest earn run average in a season (1.12 in 1968).
Known for his ability to play in multiple sports, Gibson briefly played professional basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters, overlapping his time with the Cardinals for a short while.
